www.siemens.com/energy/grid-access-solutions
The Sustainable Way
Grid access solutions from Siemens
Answers for energy.
How do we get
power to where
it is needed?
The world of energy is changing rapidly. New demands
on networks pose new challenges, for which Siemens
provides the answers.
More distributed generation, remote renewable
energy sources, and shifting patterns of energy usage
mean networks must perform like never before. Existing AC networks need to be stabilized and improved
and long-distance transmission requires low-loss HVDC
transmission. Siemens supplies a comprehensive range
of reliable, efficient, and proven grid access solutions
that help cope with such challenges.
In the emerging world of offshore connections
Siemens has taken the early lead. Siemens offers comprehensive turnkey grid access solutions, ranging from
first feasibility and power system studies to the engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of entire grid connections. Siemens’ service departments provide operations and maintenance options,
from the wind turbine to the grid. Complemented by
wind turbines and financing solutions, Siemens is the
only company offering the entire electrical infrastructure required for a fully operational offshore wind
farm in order to make sure that the power gets safely
to where it is needed.
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During the next decades, electric power consumption is
expected to increase further in emerging regions in particular, but in the industrialized world as well. One of the
main challenges of the 21st century will be to meet this
unprecedented energy demand in a cost-effective and
sustainable way. Renewable energy will play a highly
important role in meeting this challenge.
The contribution of renewable energy within the energy
mix is already significant, and worldwide renewable
power capacity is expected to dramatically increase,
changing the global energy mix. However, most renewable energy resources are usually exploited either by relatively small, distributed power generation units or, on a
larger scale, in remote areas often hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away from the centers of
consumption.
Effective solutions are vital to connect all the distributed
generation to the grid in order to make power available
where it is really needed.
Siemens supplies leading HVDC (high- voltage direct current) and FACTS (flexible AC transmission systems) as well
as HVAC (high-voltage alternating current) technology
plus a comprehensive range of related services based on
long-standing experience in the field of power transmission and distribution. All over the world, Siemens’ technology and expertise is much sought after whenever it comes
to safe, reliable, and efficient connection of energy
resources to the grid. Discover the Siemens grid access
solutions and see for yourself how to make the most of
renewable energy generation.
Technology
Services
Solutions
◾◾ HVDC PLUS
◾◾ Studies
◾◾ Wind farms
◾◾ HVAC
◾◾ Engineering
◾◾ Grid connections
◾◾ SVC PLUS®
◾◾ Installation
◾◾ FACTS
◾◾ Commissioning
◾◾ Onshore and offshore
substations and cables
◾◾ GIL
◾◾ Operation
◾◾ Financing solutions
◾◾ Maintenance
◾◾ Training
◾◾ Life cycle asset
management
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Siemens experts provide invaluable practical
experience throughout the complete project
life cycle.
SVC PLUS from Siemens stabilizes power grids,
helps increase the capacity of existing AC networks, and ensures grid code compliance.
Drawing upon
unique expertise
Experience
As the world’s only integrated energy
technology company and spanning the
entire energy conversion chain, Siemens
provides an unparalleled degree of expertise and practical experience. Over 160
years ago, the three Siemens brothers
played a decisive role across Europe in
the development of power technology,
paving the way for the modern power
industry. Siemens has remained at the
cutting edge of power generation, transmission, and distribution ever since.
In the 1880s, Siemens generators were
powering Berlin. By the 1940s Siemens
demonstrated HVDC transmission systems with six mercury-arc rectifiers for
+/- 200 kV, 60 MW. In 1964 Siemens
introduced the first SF6 circuit breaker –
the basis of modern gas-insulated switchgear technology.
The world’s first long-distance HVDC
transmission system equipped with thyristors was commisioned by the German
HVDC working group Siemens, AEG, and
BBC in 1977 between Mozambique and
South Africa for the Cahora Bassa hydroelectric power station, and in 1992
Siemens put the world’s first thyristor
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controlled three-phase series compensation (TCSC) into operation in Arizona,
USA.
Now, in the 21st century, Siemens still is
a technology leader, connecting more
megawatts of offshore wind than anyone
else. Siemens offers market-leading technology such as HVDC PLUS coupled with
smart service solutions to deliver the
highest availability.
The unique experience, long-standing
tradition of innovation, and a global presence in over 190 countries make Siemens
the partner of choice when it comes to
meeting today’s economic and technical
challenges in the implementation of grid
access solutions. Comprehensive grid
design and performance studies, as well
as financing support, round out Siemens’
scope of products, solutions, and services
to ensure maximum return on investment
and optimal life cycle costs.
A model of Siemens’ wind power offshore substation (WIPOS): Siemens supplies comprehensive offshore grid connection solutions with flexible substation configurations for both AC and DC applications.
Excellent approaches
to new challenges
WIPOS®
Siemens’ wind power offshore substation
(WIPOS) is the optimal solution that
ensures long life for offshore substations.
With WIPOS, Siemens has created a
benchmark for the design, engineering,
and installation of offshore platforms for
wind farms.
WIPOS serves as an interface between
wind turbines and the mainland, whereby
power harvested from wind is collected
on a WIPOS and then transmitted through
high-voltage subsea cables to reach the
point of connection onshore. Siemens’
WIPOS concept integrates all electrical
equipment into a multi-deck corrosionresistant steel platform in order to deliver
an efficient substation solution for both
AC and DC transmission.
Siemens offers a family of WIPOS designs
with the flexibility to meet various offshore weather, tide, and seabed
conditions.
WIPOS topside solution (topside/jacket)
In this configuration, the topside and
foundation structures are two separate
sections.
Implementation
WIPOS self-lifting solution
As the name implies the platform structure lifts itself. The topside comprises a
pontoon with hollow tubular legs that are
immersed and fastened on a base frame
(foundation), thus allowing vertical suspension. Minimal installation efforts are
required for this solution and heavy lift
vessels are not necessary.
WIPOS floating solution
The floating solution incorporates a floating facility with excess buoyancy that,
depending on water depth, can either be
completely floating or held in place by
anchors connected to a catenary mooring
system on the seabed. This configuration
is designed for deep waters.
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Setting
examples
in
efficiency
The VSC power module is Siemens’
unique technology for power
conversion.
The HVDC PLUS and SVC PLUS MMC
modules make station design much
more flexible than traditional designs.
Investments in large-scale renewable
projects such as offshore wind farms
require investors to be sure in advance
that their asset can connect to the grid
without issues. Siemens’ deep understanding of grid codes around the world
and the advanced modeling of complete
network systems, dynamically and across
the frequency domain, means that
Siemens can underwrite grid code compliance on design and construction contracts. For AC connections this includes
engineering of reactive power compensation and filtering using FACTS devices
such as SVC PLUS. For wind farms further
offshore HVDC connections are required.
Careful modeling is still vital in order to
optimize the performance of wind turbines and grid connection.
grid access for the variable output of
renewable energy sources. The pretested,
standard modular units of ±25, ±35, or
±50 MVAr guarantee fast implementation
and can be operated individually or in
parallel. SVC PLUS reduces time and
resources required for project development. The relatively low number of components simplifies design, planning, and
engineering tasks at the same time.
Thanks to the modular design with fewer
elements than conventional SVC systems,
installation and commissioning also
requires considerably less time than conventional systems. SVC PLUS is outstandingly compact, and is offered in a containerized solution, featuring great
operation and footprint flexibility.
FACTS
Flexible AC transmission systems from
Siemens allow for steady state and
dynamic voltage control as well as reactive power control of dynamic loads and
active damping of power oscillations, to
name just a few. FACTS solutions thus
increase the reliability of the system, and
improve its stability and voltage quality,
offering high flexibility for the integration
of various energy sources and strengthening the grid.
SVC PLUS®
Being part of the FACTS product portfolio,
Siemens’ trendsetting VSC technology
with “Modular Multilevel Converter”
(MMC) design of SVC PLUS helps provide
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HVDC PLUS
HVDC PLUS is the technology of choice
for bi-directional power transmission and
whenever black start capability is deemed
necessary. With this technology harmonic
filters are not necessary, therefore providing tremendous footprint advantages.
This modular, and highly reliable, concept
is based on VSC technology and the
unique MMC design. Specially designed
for transmission in the range of up to
1,000 MW and above, it is ideally suited
for the connection of offshore wind
farms to the grid. HVDC PLUS allows the
use of overhead lines as well as cable systems, and can connect and supply even
small networks and passive loads.
Two-level
Three-level
vac
Multilevel
vac
vac
vac
vac
t
Introducing
the next
generation
of power
conversion
vac
t
The core of HVDC PLUS and SVC PLUS is
voltage-sourced converter (VSC) technology based on a MMC design.
t
Innovation
◾◾ The MMC provides a nearly ideal sinusoidal-shaped AC waveform and
smooth voltage in DC applications.
There remain few, if any, requirements
for high-frequency and harmonic
filtering.
◾◾ The VSC offers an independent control
of active and reactive power.
◾◾ MMC design allows for low switching
frequencies, which reduces system
losses.
◾◾ The modular design of the MMC provides an outstanding degree of flexibility in converter station design.
◾◾ HVDC PLUS and SVC PLUS systems utilize robust, proven standard components, such as typical AC power transformers and industrial class IGBTs
(insulated gate bipolar transistors)
used for traction and industrial drives.
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A single-source
approach
Turnkey project
implementation
Siemens’ outstanding experience from
HVDC, FACTS, and HVAC projects all
around the world is the basis for
customized turnkey grid access solutions.
Siemens takes over the coordination of
the entire project, reducing the number
of interfaces between customer and
suppliers, and takes responsibility for
clearly defined schedules as well as cost
and quality covenants. Turnkey projects
also reduce the customer’s own share in
project risks, as Siemens guarantees the
delivery of a system ready for operation.
As success relies significantly on careful
advanced planning, Siemens sets the
course for success through the provision of
technical advice and the execution of a
series of comprehensive studies.
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Starting with feasibility studies at the
earliest stages, over grid compliance
analysis during design and construction,
to analyzing issues that may arise during
operation, Siemens provides customized
solutions based on core competencies
that have been engineered and
developed in-house. Leveraging our
broad competence and experience in
electrical system studies, and using our
state-of-the-art software tools of the
Power System Simulator PSS® Product
Suite, Siemens can offer the full range of
consultancy and support for renewable
energy projects. Respective studies cover,
for example, design and analysis of the
complete network of wind farms
(including wind turbine generators and
compensation equipment), verification of
compliance with grid code requirements,
investigation of the interconnection
to the transmission networks, and
assessment of further impacts of
the wind farm integration into the
power supply system.
Turnkey grid access solutions from Siemens ensure that
demanding project timescales and budgets from the project
development phase through to realization are met.
Siemens undertakes techno-economic
analyses of projects to assist in determining
ideal solutions that satisfy financial
expectations and comply with technical
regulations. Support is also given in
the production of planning and grid
applications, including regulatory advice
and liaison with network operators.
Siemens offers customized financing
solutions and can counsel on arranging
the financing. In the current economic
environment, tailored project financing
is a key success factor in realizing the
necessary investment. At the same time,
Siemens may also participate as an equity
investor following due diligence.
When necessary, Siemens’ systematic,
professional, and comprehensive
project management also includes
obtaining planning permission as well as
environmental assessment and consents.
Siemens ensures the reliable completion
of the project within a clear quality, time,
and cost framework. Close cooperation
with customers guarantees maximum
transparency and makes sure that
potential problems can be discussed and
resolved at the earliest possible stage.
Finally, operation services, proactive
maintenance and servicing solutions,
remote diagnosis, and tele-maintenance
ensure the highest possible degree of
availability and reliability throughout
the entire life cycle of the asset. This is
especially vital for offshore assets, where
service management and safety in
particular mean aiming to minimize
offshore site hours and deliver timely
right-first-time interventions.
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Value-added services
Expertise all
along the way
Wind power plays an increasingly important role in the
energy mix and contributes considerably to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Siemens supplies the
entire range of products required for efficiently harnessing the power of the wind and getting the energy
to the end-consumer. This includes wind turbines and
complete grid access solutions as well as monitoring
and control solutions and operation and maintenance
services.
As a leading company in both the manufacture of wind
turbines and in the supply of optimal grid access and network integration solutions based on both AC and DC technology, Siemens supplies a complete range of services as
well as operation and maintenance options.
Siemens’ comprehensive services include the determination of the most economical network within a planned
wind farm, the optimal grid connection, the definition and
configuration of the required components, and extensive
studies and calculations for the entire system.
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State-of-the-art high and medium-voltage switchgear and
energy automation products and solutions from Siemens
ensure a long service life and reliable operation of the
entire power grid and make sure that the generated power
is available wherever needed.
Siemens is an established service provider for offshore
and onshore AC substations as well as for HVDC systems
and provides a range of operation and maintenance
regimes to meet customer requirements. Siemens can
deliver comprehensive lifetime asset services on equipment and structures and offers proven systems for asset
management and traceability, remote diagnostics,
24-hour monitoring, authorized employees, and safety
management systems.
Linking the electricity grids of Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Moyle Interconnector is one example of Siemens’
operations and maintenance offerings. It was built and is
operated and maintained by Siemens, and is renowned as
the world’s most reliable HVDC link. Already fulfilling the
second five-year long-term maintenance agreement, Siemens maintains the converter stations to meet world-class
availability criteria. Siemens engineers and technicians
who are based at the stations work hand in hand with the
customer to provide a total service package. Paddy Larkin,
executive director of Moyle Interconnector and chief executive of Mutual Energy, confirms, “Siemens is a trusted
partner, who for eight years now has played a vital role in
driving down cost, increasing efficiencies, and above all
ensuring the safety of our equipment and the people who
work with us. The fact that the Interconnector has a
world-class record of over 99 percent availability indicates
that our service agreement is working very well and
ensures we can provide security of supply for our customers. Through Siemens we are also providing the asset care
to ensure that our first-class performance continues into
the future.”
The need to keep up with high standards of health, safety,
and environmental protection are Siemens’ highest priority. Siemens has implemented effective business management systems, certified to international standards such as
ISO 14001 and ISO 9001, for instance, with a structured
approach to the identification of hazards and risks and
providing operational processes and procedures to identify, control, and eliminate such hazards. Siemens also recognizes that creating customer value and managing risk is
essential. “PM@Siemens” is a global initiative that provides
a framework for excellence in project management
through the development of a consistent project management culture at Siemens, from bid stage to full project
execution, by sharing best practice and introducing standard approaches, tools, and processes. As part of this
framework, all Siemens project managers are accredited
to deliver complex high-value projects. Siemens’ experience, capability, technology, and processes provide a reliable basis for the delivery of complex grid connection
solutions for today and for the future.
During the accreditation process, the APM (Association of
Project Management) assessing team acknowledged:
“When it comes to professional project management and the value of it, Siemens is the benchmark.”
Andrew Bragg, APM chief executive:
“What Siemens has achieved is impressive.”
Paul Coffey, chief operating officer at RWE Innogy, says:
“Siemens has an excellent track record in offshore
wind turbines and grid connections. We are working in partnership with them on projects including
Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm and have had
good business relationships with the company for
many years. I look forward to our continued work
together.”
Colin Hood, chief operating officer at SSE, agrees:
“They’re a trusted partner, and they won’t walk
away from issues.”
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Project references
London Array, UK
630 MW
110 MW offshore wind farm
Lillgrund, Sweden
Lynn / Inner Dowsing, UK
180 MW
Lincs, UK
270 MW
About seven kilometers off the Swedish coast, 48 Siemens wind turbines,
each with an output of 2.3 MW, produce electricity for Vattenfall AB, a
leading Swedish power provider.
Thanet, UK
300 MW
BorWin2, Germany
800 MW
Greater Gabbard, UK
500 MW
HelWin1, Germany
576 MW
Gwynt y Môr, UK
576 MW
SylWin1, Germany
864 MW
Lillgrund, Sweden
110 MW
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The 33/138 kV Siemens substation
with its 120 MVA transformer is
located within the wind farm footprint. Power transmission to the
onshore grid is accomplished with a
three-phase 138 kV XLPE subsea
cable connecting the wind farm with
a substation in the town of Bunkerflo.
Siemens also performed extensive
design and performance studies for
the entire project.
180 MW offshore wind farms
Lynn and Inner Dowsing,
United Kingdom
300 MW offshore wind farm
Thanet, United Kingdom
500 MW offshore wind farm
Greater Gabbard, United Kingdom
A few kilometers off the Lincolnshire
coast 54 Siemens 3.6 MW wind turbines produce electricity for Centrica
Renewable Energy Ltd.
A project 11 kilometers off the Kentish coast, consisting of one hundred
3.0 MW wind power units, produces
electricity for Vattenfall UK.
Two 100 MVA transformers are at the
heart of the 33/132 kV onshore substation that receives the generated
electricity through three 33 kV XLPE
subsea cables. Siemens supplied the
substation and the onshore cable system as well as grid, design, and performance studies for the wind farm.
Siemens supplied the 33/132 kV offshore substation station for this project, equipped with two 180 MVA
transformers, and the onshore substation including two SVC PLUS compensation systems. Siemens also
ensured compliance with grid code,
carried out performance studies, and
provided the onshore cable system.
Roughly 25 kilometers off the coast
of Suffolk, 140 Siemens wind turbines, 3.6 MW each, will produce carbon-free electricity. Two 33/132 kV
offshore Siemens substations with
two 90 MVA transformers on one and
three 180 MVA transformers on the
other will help export the electricity
through three three-phase 132 kV
XLPE submarine cables. Near the network point-of-coupling to the grid in
the village of Sizewell, Siemens is also
installing a reactive power compensation device, which allows the wind
farm to meet the requirements of the
UK grid code.
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Lincs
Skegness
Gwynt y Môr
Liverpool
Clacton-on-Sea
London Array
London
Wales
London
576 MW offshore wind farm
Gwynt y Môr, United Kingdom
630 MW phase one offshore
wind farm London Array,
United Kingdom
270 MW offshore wind farm Lincs,
United Kingdom
The Gwynt y Môr project, situated in
the Liverpool Bay area around 18 kilometers off the English northwest
coast, will have a generating capacity
of 576 MW upon completion. The
project will be developed by a joint
venture between RWE Innogy,
Stadtwerke München, and Siemens.
Siemens will be responsible for connecting the wind farm to the grid as
well as delivering all 160 Siemens 3.6
MW class wind turbines. The turbines
will be installed in water depths
between 15 and 30 m. The grid connection of Gwynt y Môr will consist of
two offshore substations, each
equipped with two 33/132 kV 160
MVA transformers. In order to meet
grid code requirements, Siemens will
install two ±50 MVAr SVC PLUS systems for reactive power compensation as part of the onshore substation
connection.
Situated 24 kilometers from Clactonon-Sea, Essex, the development of
this project will upon completion of
phase one and two generate 1,000
MW of green power and will be the
world’s largest offshore wind farm
when it is energized in 2012.
The Lincs project, a wind farm owned
by Lincs Windfarm Limited, whose
shareholders include Centrica, DONG,
and Siemens, will be located in the
Greater Wash region approximately
eight kilometers from Skegness,
Lincolnshire, UK. Lincs will have a
generating capacity of 270 MW
employing 75 Siemens 3.6 MW wind
turbines installed in water depths of
between eight and 18 meters. In
addition to supplying the wind turbines, Siemens will be providing performance studies and constructing
the offshore substation topside housing two 33/132 kV 240 MVA transformers as well as the onshore AC
substation for this project. This contract award follows the successful
commissioning of Centrica’s Lynn &
Inner Dowsing offshore wind farms,
for which Siemens also provided the
grid connection.
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In phase one, two offshore substations will be delivered to collect the
630 MW of power generated by 175
Siemens wind turbines before transferring the power to shore via the
main 150 kV export cables.
Siemens is the design-build contractor responsible for the overall electrical design of the grid connection providing performance studies, the
equipment for two offshore substations, the complete onshore substation, and reactive power
compensation.
Sylt
Sylt
SylWin1
Sylt
HelWin1
BorWin2
Bremen
Bremen
Bremen
800 MW offshore HVDC PLUS link
BorWin2, Germany
576 MW offshore HVDC PLUS link
HelWin1, Germany
864 MW offshore HVDC PLUS link
SylWin1, Germany
For the BorWin2 project, Siemens will
supply the voltage-sourced converter
(VSC) system – using Siemens HVDC
PLUS technology – with a rating of
800 MW. The wind farms Veja Mate
and Global Tech 1 are designed to
generate 800 MW and will be connected through Siemens’ HVDC PLUS
link to shore. The converter will be
installed on an offshore platform,
where the voltage level will be
stepped up and then converted to
±300 kV DC. The platform will accommodate all the requisite electrical
equipment for the HVDC converter
station, two transformers, four AC
cable compensation reactors and
high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear
(GIS). The Siemens wind power offshore substation (WIPOS) will be
designed as a floating, self-lifting
platform. Power will be transmitted
via subsea and land cable to Diele
close to Papenburg, where an
onshore converter station will reconvert the DC back to AC and feed it into
the 380 kV AC network. The entire
transmission link is expected to begin
operation in 2013.
For the project HelWin1, Siemens will
be supplying a voltage-sourced converter (VSC) system with a rating of
576 MW using Siemens HVDC PLUS
technology. The wind farms Nordsee
Ost and Meerwind are designed to
generate 576 MW and will be connected through a Siemens’ HVDC
PLUS link to shore. The converter will
be installed on an offshore platform,
where the voltage level will be
stepped up and then converted to
±250 kV DC. The platform will accommodate all the requisite electrical
high-voltage AC and DC equipment
for the converter station. Similar to
the BorWin2 project, the Siemens
wind power offshore substation
(WIPOS) will also be designed as a
floating, self-lifting platform. Energy
will be trans­mitted via subsea and
land cable to Büttel, northwest of
Hamburg, Germany, where an
onshore converter station will reconvert the DC back to AC and transmit it
into the high-voltage grid. The entire
transmission link and grid connection
is expected to be in operation by
2013.
Siemens will supply the world’s largest voltage-sourced converter (VSC)
offshore system with a rating of 864
MW for the SylWin1 project. Siemens’
HVDC PLUS link will connect the Dan
Tysk wind farm to the German shore.
The converter will be installed on an
offshore platform, where the voltage
level will be stepped up and converted to ±320 kV DC. The platform
will accommodate all electrical equipment required for the HVDC converter
station: two transformers, four AC
cable compensation reactors, and
high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear
(GIS). Similar to the BorWin2 and HelWin1 projects, the Siemens wind
power offshore substation (WIPOS®)
will be designed as a floating, selflifting platform. The energy will be
transmitted via subsea and land cable
to Büttel, where an onshore converter
station will reconvert the DC to AC
and feed it into the 380 kV AC grid.
The transmission link is scheduled to
start operation in 2014.
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Published by and copyright © 2011:
Siemens AG
Energy Sector
Freyeslebenstrasse 1
91058 Erlangen, Germany
Siemens AG
Energy Sector
Power Transmission Division
Power Transmission Solutions
Freyeslebenstrasse 1
91058 Erlangen, Germany
For more information, please contact
our Customer Support Center.
Phone: +49 180 524 70 00
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E-mail: [email protected]
Power Transmission Division
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or their respective owners.
Subject to change without prior notice.
The information in this document contains
general descriptions of the technical options
available, which may not apply in all cases.
The required technical options should therefore
be specified in the contract.